Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

3 relays? 2 for headlights and one for? Oh wait do you have 4 headlights instead of 2?

1 relay for low speed on fan and 2 60 amp relays for high speed on fan.

[quadzero]

Very professional shroud you built. Nice paint guns too, keep up the great work.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by quadzero

Very professional shroud you built. Nice paint guns too, keep up the great work.

Thanks quad zero. I wish I could take credit for the fab work, but without a brake in my shop, I had to pay $$$ for my cardboard mockup to become a reality. If i had a tig welder i would have given her a whirl for sure.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Nice choice on color..

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

Nice choice on color..

Thanks frenchblue72. I wanted to keep the look simple and clean. I do like 2 tone, but could never arrive at two tones that I really liked. Though, thought seriously about champagne as the light and rootbear as the dark for a bit.

[cmabolt]

update. Got a few moments the other day and thought i would fill the 16x9 speaker holes in the doors and get the new sport mirrors test installed.

After plate welded in

Door Mirror holes.

I used this reference that was here on the forums. It was very helpful as the factory assembly manual references templates or something that didn't seem to have real world garage meaning.

[Vintage Windmills]

Nice build! I see you have more than 2 leafs in the front leaf springs, are those lift springs you purchased? Curious what you went with for those.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Nice build! I see you have more than 2 leafs in the front leaf springs, are those lift springs you purchased? Curious what you went with for those.

Hey vintage windmills. I went with the tough country EZ ride 2" suspension
lift kit. I wanted as nice a ride as i could get and not too much lift. Just enough to give 33" tires some breathing room.

Cheers
Chris

[cmabolt]

slipped in a little more truck time between jobs.
I needed to get a bunch of holes on the bed filled where the auxiliary tanks were mounted. A bit tedious, but got it done.


I also need to clean up this area inside the bed where the side filler was fabbed. I wish i would have done this myself. Would have been much cleaner to just make a nice box with tabs at the bottom.


A slurry of filler and welding rod. Not too pretty. I'll see what I can do. Never know, might get aggravated and cut the damn thing out. Start over??

I also managed to get all the fluids replenished in the motor, frt/rr axle, trans and transfer case. I decided to go with 75/90 Synthetic for axles and trans/transfer case. Sounds like many people are using this stuff with good results. It must have been a long time since I replenished all the fluids in one of my vehicles because I nearly blacked out after looking at the receipt. This stuff must be made out of an exotic mixture of refined gold. Oh well, it's only money right.

So, bed is almost ready for body shop and motor is almost ready for a startup.

[cmabolt]

Update. Well, had today to try and get some stuff done. I grinded a few more welds in the bed floor and then turned my attention to the huge leak that started when I was pouring fluid into the transfer case.

It appeared to be coming thru the input shaft seal that i just replaced. hmmmm

So removed driveshaft and yoke to take a loo at the seal. I bought a rebuild kit online so wondering if this is the culprit.

After careful inspection, the seal wasn't even touching the yoke shaft. therefore the fluid was just pouring out. So off to Napa to get'r fixed.
While I was there i picked up a 78 steering box with the quicker ratio and got her installed with my drop pitman arm. I give the credit to crash for doing this with good result.


I am waiting on a few electrical connectors and some bulk wire to get started wiring the motor.

[cmabolt]

made a little progress yesterday. Got some wiring stuff delivered. I soldered together some nice weather pack connectors for the fan setup.

Got the core support grounded to the frame.

Most importantly, I got all the temporary wires hooked up and some fuel in the tank for the test start. I did run the fuel pump to pressurize the lines and only had one leak at a loose line fitting. Tightened her up and back in business. I also cycled the pump till I heard the return line dumping fuel back into the tank. Very happy it works.


Dropped a bolt in the frame to hold the DBW pedal

I am a little concerned about priming the engine. It has been sitting for months and part of that time upside down. Any suggestions? This isn't like the old small block. I was thinking I would take out the plugs give a squirt or two of WD40 in the cylinders and dry crank till I have pressure. Then close it all up and give it a go? Hopefully next post will be a video of the motor living. On your mark, get set...

[swamp rat]

Can't ya pull out the distributor and prime the engine by turning the oil pump with a drill motor? I wouldn't do WD-40 as its not a lubricant its a water displacement product, a small squirt of motor oil wouldn't hurt i wouldn't think.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Can't ya pull out the distributor and prime the engine by turning the oil pump with a drill motor? I wouldn't do WD-40 as its not a lubricant its a water displacement product, a small squirt of motor oil wouldn't hurt i wouldn't think.

Thanks swamp rat. There is no distributer on an LS. It's all coil packs. However, I did indeed pull the plugs, hooked up an oil pressure gauge, put a few squirts of oil in the cylinders and cranked until I got pressure. It took about a minute and then I got 25 psi. I imagine the psi will increase once i start the motor.

Thanks for your input about WD40
Chris

[Sir Fisher]

nice build!!!

[cmabolt]

Thanks Sir Fisher!

[cmabolt]

We have filler! Went by the body shop today to check on progress. much to my surprise, they are pretty far along on the cab. Should be in primer soon.

They said they are getting about 5 hours a week in on it between jobs.

At least there is progress.

[CUSTOM/10]

Huh.... Now you'll probably be on the road before me !!! "LOL"

Gary

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

Huh.... Now you'll probably be on the road before me !!! "LOL"

Gary

Hilarious!
I am cautiously optimistic, but have been here
Before. Feel like a broken record with this body
Shop stuff. If I could just get the cab back I could
Get the truck driving, braking, shifting and partially
Wired. So, we'll see.
Chris

[swamp rat]

Nice! Sure wish i had about 7-10 G's ( i have no real idea how much it should cost) to hire a body shop myself!

[Mr Chevorlet]

Yes another nice build, cant wait to see paint on the body and assembled.

[Crash_OK]

Looks great.. Can't wait to see it with paint.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Looks great.. Can't wait to see it with paint.

Thanks mark. I'm sure by now it all seems
Like a distant memory. Probably itchin to start
Your next project
Chris

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by Mr Chevorlet

Yes another nice build, cant wait to see paint on the body and assembled.

Thanks Mr Chevrolet. Appreciate it.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Nice! Sure wish i had about 7-10 G's ( i have no real idea how much it should cost) to hire a body shop myself!

I wish I had 7-10k for bodywork and paint,
But do not. The body guy gave me great numbers.
So, I doubled it and think it is still doable.
Lol

[quadzero]

Too bad about the body shop putting your project aside, seems to be a common issue with a lot of people on this board. 8 months is a joke. But still good to see the updates and great progress coming along and being able to start it for the first time is a great milestone. This project is inspiration for others following along.